LOS ANGELES — Officially, Chris Rusin is the Rockies’ fifth-string first baseman. He fielded groundballs at the corner before Saturday’s game at Dodger Stadium.
“Look at that first baseman,” Colorado manager Bud Black said, pointing to the oddity of his left-handed pitcher scooping throws in the dirt. “No. 52, Chris Rusin, our first baseman. He’s our fifth-stringer on the depth chart.”
His versatility has served Rusin well this season, but from the mound. And after he shut down the Dodgers over two crucial innings Friday in the Rockies’ 5-4 come-from-behind victory, Rusin now typifies an amplifying rivalry between the National League West rivals.